The Book of 1 Kings

1 Kings covers Solomon's wisdom and the building of the Temple, then the kingdom's tragic division, and the prophetic ministry of Elijah against the apostasy of King Ahab and Jezebel.

Testament: Old (22 chapters)
Type: History
Date: Events span from Solomon's accession (≈ 970 BC) to the mid-9th century BC.

Wisdom and its costs

Solomon asks for wisdom and is given it abundantly — and yet his wisdom does not save him from idolatry through his many foreign wives. The book is sober about how even God's gifts can be misused.

Prophets against kings

Elijah's confrontation with the prophets of Baal at Mount Carmel (chapter 18) is one of Scripture's most dramatic scenes. The pattern — prophet speaking truth to power at great cost — runs through every subsequent prophetic book.

Key verses (KJV)

“Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad.” — 1 Kings 3:9 (KJV)

“How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him.” — 1 Kings 18:21 (KJV)

“And, behold, the LORD passed by... but the LORD was not in the wind... and after the fire a still small voice.” — 1 Kings 19:11-12 (KJV)

How to read 1 Kings

Chapters 1-11 (Solomon) and 17-22 (Elijah) are the highlights. 1 Kings 19 — Elijah at Horeb — is one of the most pastoral chapters in the Old Testament; read it when you are exhausted.

Read 1 Kings on your iPhone

Read the full book of 1 Kings in Quiethaven — choose your translation, read offline, and pick up where you left off. Pair it with a daily verse and a prayer timer.

Read 1 Kings free on iPhone.

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Popular chapters in 1 Kings

1 Kings 19

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Frequently asked questions

What is the Book of 1 Kings about?

1 Kings is a book of History, running to 22 chapters. Its main threads: Wisdom and its costs; Prophets against kings.

Who wrote the Book of 1 Kings?

Anonymous; traditionally Jeremiah. Final form during the Babylonian exile.

Where does 1 Kings come in the Bible?

1 Kings is one of the 39 books of the Old Testament in the Protestant canon, grouped with the History books. You can walk the canon in order using the previous and next links on this page.